Data Collection Plan

As I have mentioned before, I am working on a case study that addresses some of my concerns regarding at-risk students in the school community. What kinds of methods keep the students engaged? How and what type of information is presented in the classroom? I would like to know how educators address at-risk students in the curriculum and in the classroom environment in order to promote their students’ academic success while still promoting state/district standards.

As a part of my study, I will be using several primary data sources including field notes, a teacher interview, standardized test scores, example unit plans, recorded students discussions and possibly notes written by the student to the teacher. I would like to analyze multiple perspectives including my own perspective as well as the students and the teacher who participate in my case study.

I plan to collect data by performing a case study on a group of students from an English classroom in a junior high school. I will also be trying to identify recurring themes or methods in relation to the teaching methods and comparing that to the students’ interests and learning styles. Throughout my case study, I will be evaluating and revaluating my data in order to focus my question and create new questions. Also, I am planning to review my data and receive assistance analyzing data with a group of my classroom peers.

I will be collecting my data throughout the next few weeks as well as looking back on my field notes from earlier in the semester. By creating an on-going study, it will be easier to identify common themes and patterns.

I am hoping that the data that I receive will allow me to analyze multiple perspectives regarding the curriculum as well as comparing the methods to the students’ success on a variety of assessments including standardized test scores. The unit plans will allow me to see how my case study teacher planned the lessons in order to serve the at risk students in the community. I will be observing student participation as well as student feedback in order to evaluate the success of the teacher’s methods. It is important for me to gain as many perspectives as possible in order to produce a thoughtful and well-rounded analysis for my case study question.